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As Biden attempts to address problems at the Mexican border that have been plaguing his administration since day one‚ a new development has surfaced that could harm his image with moderates and Republicans further. This week‚ the Biden administration announced that they would be sending high ranking officials to Mexico to negotiate with Mexican President Lopez Obrador in an attempt to beg the Mexican President to clamp down on migration rather than negotiate with Republicans. “Everything revolves around getting the Mexican government to do targeted operations” against the cartels’ migration business‚ one U.S. official told the Washington Post. NEW: Even DEMOCRATS are demanding the Biden Administration take action on border security — their communities are also being DIRECTLY impacted. Yet‚ Biden is sending Mayorkas to negotiate with Mexico’s corrupt López-Obrador — pathetic! These folks are clearly incompetent. pic.twitter.com/cSILuCJ2Yr — Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) December 22‚ 2023 Advocates for restricting immigration say that Biden is making a desperate plea to a foreign leader instead of using the tools that are legally at his disposal to stem the unprecedented crisis. Biden’s problem is that he “is refusing to enforce immigration law‚” Mark Krikorian‚ director of the Center for Immigration Studies‚ noted‚ adding‚ “The [migration] numbers are unprecedented. The legacy media is starting to notice. … [So Biden] is begging Mexico for help to fix the problem instead of just using the [legal] tools he has to fix the problem right now.” Meanwhile‚ the Senate has been working on a package to address the migration crisis that was bundled with aid to Ukraine and Israel. Republicans unanimously voted against the package‚ arguing that the bills should be separate since America should prioritize securing its own borders over aid to foreign countries Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Ny.)‚ seeming more concerned about Ukraine aid than securing the borders‚ said that the vote was a ‘moment history will record.’ “This is a moment history will record. … Vladimir Putin is watching closely to see if the Senate will approve [aid] to Ukraine. Whether or not we approve an aid package will likely sway the outcome of the war.” Said Schumer.

This article originally appeared on WND.com Guest by post by Bob Unruh A Michigan city is coughing up $825‚000 because its officials infringed the religious rights of a local farmer by banning him from a market event. Officials with East Lansing also have agreed‚ going forward‚ to protect the religious rights of the owners of Country Mill Farms. The payment includes about $783‚000 in lawyers’ fees and another $41‚000 in damages. It was a few months back that a federal district court decided Steve Tennes‚ the farm owner‚ was free to continue participating in the city’s farmer’s market‚ after city officials had banned him. It was back in 2017 that city officials excluded Tennes – specifically because of his religious beliefs. “Steve and his family-run farm happily serve all customers as a valued vendor at East Lansing’s farmer’s market. The court was right to agree that the First Amendment protects Steve‚ like every other small business owner‚ to operate his business according to his faith and convictions‚” lawyer Kate Anderson said in a prepared statement. “We’re pleased to favorably settle this lawsuit on behalf of Steve so he and his family can continue doing what Country Mill does best‚ as expressed in its mission statement: “glorifying God by facilitating family fun on the farm and feeding families.’” The fight‚ like so many these days‚ erupted over the farmer’s dedication to biblical standards. He posted on Facebook that he follows the Catholic Church’s teachings about marriage‚ including when he allows weddings at his family’s farm. That statement of faith prompted city officials to create a new policy that refused him permission to be at the farmer’s market. WND had reported when the ruling was handed down that the court found Tennes and his family had been forced by the city to “to choose between following their religious beliefs and a government benefit for which they were otherwise qualified.” The case has been in the courts for some six years. The court decision had found‚ “Denying a person an equal share of the rights‚ benefits‚ and privileges enjoyed by other citizens because of her faith discourages religious activity.” Country Mill Farms is a 120-acre‚ second-generation family farm in Charlotte‚ Michigan. They had sold organic products at the East Lansing farmers market since 2010‚ but in 2017‚ city officials decided to target them with a “discretionary system of individual assessments” for participants. Copyright 2023 WND News Center

When you’re a small and humble website like VintageRock.com‚ it’s hard to keep up with everything that comes tumbling out of the marketing cycle. So‚ instead of doing a year-end wrap-up of the year’s best this and that‚ let’s take a quick stroll through five incredible musical releases you can pick up as a last-minute holiday gifts‚ or maybe even new year presents to yourself. We’re talking a mix of new studio albums‚ reissued albums or sets‚ live albums‚ or any kind of compilation‚ be it vinyl‚ CD‚ Blu-ray‚ DVD‚ download‚ and streaming (sorry cassettes‚ you’re not there yet). Who’s Next | Life House The Who Any rock fan worth his weight in platinum knows that the Who’s 1971 masterwork Who’s Next is an essential must-have in any collection. So‚ when the 11-disc‚ 2 hard cover book‚ memorabilia-filled Who’s Next | Life House dropped in September‚ it was time to rejoice. The hefty $250 price tag probably scared away a lot of prospects; the hardcore Wholigans simply said‚ “Take my money!” Packed with Pete Townshend’s original Life House demos‚ the Record Plant NYC sessions‚ the Olympic Studios sessions‚ more singles and sessions‚ the full 1971 Young Vic live concert‚ the complete 1971 San Francisco Civic Auditorium show‚ and a Blu-ray Disc with the Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes‚ your ears will thank you in the morning. Just don’t drop it because this sucker is so heavy it’ll go thud.  Before &; After Neil Young Struggling to keep up with Neil Young’s ever-growing discography? So are we. Fortunately‚ the 13-track Before &; After slows things down‚ providing a full-blown‚ acoustically based retrospective. From simplified runs of early material like “Burned” and “Mr. Soul‚” through sanctified classic like “Comes A Time” and latter-day nuggets like “I’m The Ocean” and “Mother Earth‚” there’s a little bit of everything from the Canadian singer-songwriter on this collection. For completists‚ it’s another notch in their belt that could one day‚ depending on your waist size‚ run out of notches.  Larks’ Tongues In Aspic The Complete Recording Sessions King Crimson Personnel musical chairs just about sent King Crimson packing in the early 70s until leader Robert Fripp finally had a lineup to complete what he called “a magic band.” Fifty years later‚ Larks’ Tongues in Aspic – The Complete Recording Sessions reaffirms Fripp’s claim to maximum effect. The guitarist is joined by then-newly-departed-from-Yes drummer Bill Bruford‚ plus bassist and vocalist John Wetton‚ violinist David Cross‚ and percussionist Jamie Muir for what many consider one of Crimson’s most epic offerings. Tapping into the sonic possibilities‚ Steven Wilson takes a crack at Dolby Atmos‚ DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound and hi-res stereo mixes on one Blu-ray Disc‚ David Singleton handles the “Elemental” mixes on a second Blu-ray‚ which also features the complete recordings of every session recorded for the album. Toss in two CDs with a 2023 stereo mix and instrumentals‚ elemental mixes‚ selected master reels‚ and a booklet with juicy tidbits – and you may never leave the comfy confines of your music room for the light of day again.  The Journey – Part 2 The Kinks The second installation of the Kinks’ 60th anniversary anthology series‚ The Journey – Part 2 picks up‚ in no particular order‚ from where The Journey – Part 1 left. There’s a cross-section of hits‚ B-sides‚ deep tracks‚ alternate takes‚ and six new Ray Davies mixes including three previously unreleased live performances from 1975. There’s also a booklet with band photos and track notes by the Davies brothers (Ray and Dave) and drummer Mick Avory. Any Kinks fan will appreciate some of the funkier selections like “Scrapheap City‚” “Creeping Jean‚” “Wicked Annabella” and “Holiday Romance.” Who knows how many Kinks trinkets are hiding in the closet? We’ll leave that for Part 3‚ if one is forthcoming.  The Big Express XTC You’ve probably picked up on our obsession with Steven Wilson remixes. If so‚ XTC’s The Big Express delivers on that premise big time. The group’s 1984 album has been embellished with new stereo‚ Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround mixes on a Blu-ray Disc‚ as well as the stereo mix on CD. Of course‚ there’s a load of extras to cover the whole spectrum of the band’s seventh release. Squirming for recognition in a mire of 80s infested pop swirl and new wave tendencies‚ XTC’s attempt at conceptual storytelling was substantiated by the group’s free use of new technology with traditional manifestations resulted into some spine-tinging ear candy. Such redemptive powers come full circle here and beyond.  The post Five 2023 Diamonds We Couldn’t Let Slip By first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Christmas celebrations have been canceled in Bethlehem as conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. 

In a surprising statement‚ California Governor Gavin Newsom has been critical of the Colorado Supreme Court ruling that took former President Donald Trump off the primary ballot.